Intercom apparatus

ABSTRACT

An intercom apparatus in which a connection of intercom master stations in respective residential rooms is carried out by use of a terminal unit which is separated from the master station and the terminal unit can be removed according to need with keeping the connecting state.  
     The intercom apparatus has an entrance substation and a plurality of intercom master stations which are disposed in residential rooms and called from the entrance substation through a main line path to intercommunicate with the entrance substation bilaterally, and it has the terminal unit comprising terminals for connecting intercom master stations by a station-to-station spanned wiring to form the main line path and a terminal board in which the terminals are mounted for carrying out an electrical connection of the main line path by the station-to-station spanned wiring, and a mounting bracket by which the terminal unit is detachably mounted is allocated in a space which is formed at backside of the intercom master station and a CRT module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an intercom apparatus, and relates toan intercom apparatus having a terminal unit which can be separated froman intercom master station.

[0003] 2. Related Arts

[0004] Heretofore, in an intercom apparatus (see, FIG. 1) which has oneor a plurality of entrance substations which are disposed at anentrance, and a plurality of intercom master stations which are disposedin residential rooms and called from the entrance substation through amain line path to intercommunicate with the entrance substationbilaterally, a terminal base which is disposed at a backside of theintercom master station and electrically connected to a board in theapparatus is formed integrally with the intercom master station.

[0005] An application of the intercom master station in such intercomapparatus in the related art is that a wiring coming from the entrancesubstation or the residential room is directly connected to the terminalbase disposed at the backside of the intercom master station and to theintercom master station in the next residential room, and intercommaster stations in respective residential rooms are connectedsequentially.

[0006] In the intercom master station of the above-described intercomapparatus as the related art, there is a drawback that the applicationcan not be carried out in case that main bodies of the intercom mainstation are not existed in an installation location. Further, since themain bodies of the intercom master station main are involved in wiringworks, it is hard to carry out the wire connection and there is apossibility that the apparatus may be dropped and broken carelessly.Furthermore, in case that the intercom master station is broken or has adefect in operation so that maintenance is needed, the wire connectionof the intercom master station has to be removed but by removing oneintercom main station from the main line path, there occurs a drawbackthat entire intercom apparatus is stopped.

[0007] Moreover, since during a period from the application untilmove-in, the main bodies of the intercom master station can not bemoved, there is a drawback that they are gotten dirty in theinstallation location, and there is a possibility that intercom masterstations may be stolen in the installation location during a periodafter the application until the move-in.

[0008] The invention is made to solve these drawbacks and aims toprovide an intercom apparatus which carries out a connection of intercommaster stations in respective residential rooms by use of a terminalunit and in which the terminal unit can be removed according to needwithout changing a state of a wire connection.

[0009] To accomplish this aim, an intercom apparatus of the inventionhas one or a plurality of entrance substations which are disposed at anentrance and a plurality of intercom master stations which are disposedin residential rooms and called from the entrance substation through amain line path to intercommunicate with the entrance substationbilaterally, wherein the intercom apparatus has a terminal unit whichcomprises terminals for wiring between the plurality of intercom masterstations by a station-to-station spanned wiring to form the main linepath and a terminal board for mounting the terminals and carrying out anelectrical connection of the main line path by the station-to-stationspanned wiring, and the intercom master station has a mounting bracketfor detachably mounting the terminal unit.

[0010] Further, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, the mountingbracket is disposed at a backside of the intercom master station.

[0011] Furthermore, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, themounting bracket is disposed in a space which is formed at a backside ofa CRT module as a monitor which displays a picture taken by a camera ofthe entrance substation.

[0012] Moreover, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, theterminal unit has a projection which is inserted into a guide groovedisposed on the mounting bracket of the intercom master station, and theintercom master station has locking parts for fitting the terminal unitto the intercom master station so that engaged is an end face of aterminal outside chassis of the terminal unit which covers the terminalsand the terminal board by being moved in an orthogonal direction to aninserting direction of the terminal unit.

[0013] Further, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, at the sametime as the fitting operation, an electrical connection is carried outby insertion-mounting a connector which is disposed on the terminalboard and a housing which is disposed on a main printed circuit boardinside of the intercom master station.

[0014] Furthermore, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, on themounting bracket, disposed is a storage space for storing on thedownside of the terminal unit a lead wire for carrying out an electricalconnection between the intercom master station and the terminal unit.

[0015] Moreover, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, on theterminal outside chassis, disposed is a lead wire guide for guiding andstoring a lead wire which is gotten out from the intercom masterstation.

[0016] Further, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, it haslocking parts for having said terminal outside chassis of said terminalunit fit by pushing said terminal in inside of the intercom masterstation.

[0017] Furthermore, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, theterminal unit is mounted on an opening part of a wall hanging attachmentfor attaching the intercom master station to a wall by locking partswhich are disposed on the terminal unit, and the intercom master stationhas a storage space for storing the terminal unit which is mounted onthe wall hanging attachment.

[0018] Moreover, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, anelectrical connection is carried out by inserting the connector disposedon the terminal board which is disposed in the terminal unit into thehousing disposed on the main printed circuit board which is disposed inthe intercom master station.

[0019] Further, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, the terminaloutside chassis is used as a part of an outer hull of the intercommaster station.

[0020] Furthermore, in the intercom apparatus of the invention, theterminals of the terminal unit are mounted on a side surface of theintercom master station so that the station-to-station spanned wiring ofthe main line path is made to be an exposed wiring.

[0021] According to such intercom apparatus, a terminal part is unitizedand the terminal unit can be made to be removed from the intercom mainstation so that even in case that the intercom master station has adefect and is removed from the intercom apparatus, there is no case thatthe entire apparatus is stopped. Further, since the intercom masterstation can be removed from the intercom apparatus, theft damage of theintercom main station during a period after the application untilmove-in can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may bestbe understood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023]FIG. 1 is a view explaining a structure of an intercom apparatus;

[0024]FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a back surface of an intercommaster station 1 and a terminal unit 2 of an intercom apparatusaccording to the invention;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a view showing a CRT module mounting state in aninternal structure of an intercom master station 1 of an intercomapparatus according to the invention;

[0026] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are explanatory views of a terminal unit ofthe intercom apparatus of the invention showing a terminal board and aprojection and showing a lead wire guide, respectively;

[0027]FIG. 5 is a view of an internal structure of an intercom masterstation 1 of an intercom apparatus of the invention showing a state inwhich a CRT module is removed from a state of FIG. 3;

[0028]FIG. 6 is a explanatory view showing a connection of an intercommaster station and a terminal unit in an intercom apparatus of theinvention;

[0029]FIG. 7 is a view explaining another embodiment of a connection ofan intercom master station and a terminal unit in an intercom apparatusof the invention;

[0030]FIG. 8 is a view explaining a wall mounting example in an intercomapparatus of the invention;

[0031] FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are a rear elevation view and a sectionalside view of one example of an intercom master station and a terminaloutside chassis in an intercom apparatus of the invention; and

[0032]FIG. 10 is a view explaining a lead wire and its storage in anintercom apparatus of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention willbe concretely described with referent to the drawings.

[0034] An intercom apparatus of the invention has, as shown in FIG. 1,one or a plurality of entrance substations 9 which are disposed at anentrance, a plurality of intercom master stations 1, 1, . . . which aredisposed in residential rooms and called from the entrance substation 9through a main line path to intercommunicate with the entrancesubstation 9 bilaterally and a image bus controller 7 for supplyingelectric power to a camera 91 of the entrance substation 9 and intercommaster stations 1, 1, . . . and for amplifying image signals from thecamera 91, and the plurality of the intercom master stations 1, 1, . . .are wire-connected by a station-to-station spanned wiring.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, this intercom apparatus is of a structurethat a terminal unit 2 is mounted on the intercom master station 1, andas shown in FIGS. 2, 4(a) and 4(b), the terminal unit 2 comprisesterminals 31 for forming a main line path and a terminal board 30 inwhich the terminals 31 are mounted and an electric connection of themain line path is carried out by the station-to-station spanned wiring,and as shown in FIG. 2, the intercom master station 1 has a mountingbracket 60 for mounting the terminal unit 2 detachably which is disposedon a back surface 13 of the intercom main station 1.

[0036] In case that the mounting bracket 60 which is disposed on theback surface 13 of the intercom master station 1 is disposed, as shownin FIGS. 3 and 5, in a space 51 at a back chassis 12 side which isformed on a back surface of a CRT module 50 as a monitor for displayingimages which are taken by the camera 91 (see, FIG. 1) of the entrancesubstation 9, it is preferable since a vacant space can be utilized.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2, 4(a) and 4(b), the terminal unit 2 has aplurality of projections 22, 22, . . . which are inserted into aplurality of guide grooves 61, 61, . . . which are disposed on themounting bracket 60 of the intercom master station 1, and the intercommaster station 1 has locking parts 62 for fitting the terminal unit 2 tothe intercom master station 1 so that engaged is an end face of aterminal outside chassis 21 of the terminal unit 2 which covers theterminals 31 and the terminal board 30 by being moved in an orthogonaldirection to an inserting direction of the terminal unit 2.

[0038] Here, will be explained a case that the terminal unit 2 is fixedin a slide manner when it is mounted on the mounting bracket 60 of theintercom master station 1.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, by moving the terminal unit 2 in a slidedirection over mounting it on the mounting bracket 60 of the intercommaster station 1, the end face of the terminal outside chassis 21 of theterminal unit 2 fits to the locking parts 62 and the projection 22 (FIG.4(a)) of the terminal unit 2 is fit in the guide groove 61 of theintercom master station 1 so that the terminal unit 2 is fixed.

[0040] Further, at the same time of the fitting of the terminal unit 2and the intercom master station 1, as shown in FIG. 6, a connector 33which is disposed on the terminal board 30 of the terminal unit 2 and ahousing 41 which is disposed on a main board 40 of the intercom masterstation 1 are insertion-mounted so that an electrical connection iscarried out.

[0041] In addition, as another system for carrying out the electricalconnection, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, a lead wire 35 with necessaryand sufficient length to be pulled out from the intercom master station1 in case of put-on and take-off of the terminal unit 2 may be stored ina storage space 63 which is disposed on the mounting bracket 60 so thatit is stored in the downside of the terminal unit 2, and further, thelead wire 35 for electrically connecting the intercom master station 1and the terminal unit 2 may be passed through a lead wire guide 24 (see,FIG. 4(b)) and then, wire-connected to the terminal outside chassis 21which is disposed on the terminal unit 2. In this case, after thewire-connection, the lead wire 35 can be stored underneath the terminalunit 2 and since it was passed through the lead wire guide 24, leadwires 35 are bundled so that storage processing becomes certain andeasy.

[0042] Then, will be explained a case that the terminal unit 2 is fixedin a push-in manner when it is mounted on the mounting bracket 60 of theintercom master station 1.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, on an end portion for fixing the terminalunit 2 to the mounting bracket 60 of the intercom master station 1,disposed are locking parts 16 having inward directed claws 16 a, and bypushing the terminal unit 2 in an inside direction of the intercommaster station 1, the locking parts 16 are bent so that the terminaloutside chassis 21 is fit to the locking parts 16 and pull-out isblocked by the inward directed claws 16 a and the terminal unit 2 issurely fixed to the intercom master station 1.

[0044] Then, as another example, explained will be a structure formounting the terminal unit 2 and the intercom master station 1 when theintercom master station 1 is mounted on a wall.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 8, a storage space 60 a for storing the terminalunit 2 in the intercom master station 1 is disposed, and on an endportion of the terminal unit 2, locking parts 23 comprising outwarddirected claws are disposed, and the terminal unit 2 is mounted at anopening part 81 of a wall hanging attachment 80, and the locking parts23 of the terminal unit 2 are engaged with to be locked by the openingpart 81 of the wall hanging attachment 80.

[0046] In addition, there is a case that a wire connection istemporarily carried out without mounting the intercom master station 1in case of an application, and in this case, as a place to keep theterminal unit 2, it is mounted by use of locking parts 23 which aredisposed on the terminal unit 2 and engaged with the opening part 81 ofthe wall hanging attachment 80. In this state, the terminal unit 2 canbe kept in a state in which it is fixed to the wall. Thereafter, theintercom master station 1 is mounted for real and the terminal unit 2can be easily mounted.

[0047] Further, as shown in FIG. 8, it becomes possible to carry out anelectrical connection by insertion-mounting a connector housing 41allocated on the main board 40 which is disposed in the intercom masterstation 1 and the connector 33 allocated on the terminal board 30 whichis disposed in the terminal unit 2.

[0048] In addition, in the above embodiment, it was explained that theterminal unit 2 and the wall hanging attachment 80 were disposedseparately, but may be formed integrally so that the similar advantageswill be obtained.

[0049] Further, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), the terminal outsidechassis 21 may be used as a part of a outer hull of the intercom masterstation 1. In this case, the station-to-station spanned wiring of themain line path may be made to be an exposed wiring by mounting theterminals 31 of the terminal unit 2 on a side surface of the intercommaster station 1.

[0050] As apparent from the foregoing explanation, according to anintercom apparatus of the invention, by unitizing a terminal portion, aterminal unit can be removed from an intercom master station so that anentire apparatus never stops even when the intercom master station has adefect and is removed from the apparatus. Further, during a period afteran application until move-in, the intercom master station can be removedso that a theft damage of the intercom master station after theapplication can be prevented.

What is claimed is:
 1. An intercom apparatus having one or a pluralityof entrance substations which are disposed at an entrance and aplurality of intercom master stations which are disposed in residentialrooms and called from said entrance substation through a main line pathto intercommunicate with said entrance substation bilaterally, whereinsaid intercom apparatus has a terminal unit which comprises terminalsfor wiring between the plurality of intercom master stations by astation-to-station spanned wiring to form said main line path and aterminal board for mounting said terminals and carrying out anelectrical connection of said main line path by said station-to-stationspanned wiring, and said intercom master station has a mounting bracketfor detachably mounting said terminal unit.
 2. The intercom apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said mounting bracket is disposed at abackside of said intercom master station.
 3. The intercom apparatusaccording to claim 1 or 2, wherein said mounting bracket is disposed ina space which is formed at a backside of a CRT module as a monitor whichdisplays a picture taken by a camera of said entrance substation.
 4. Theintercom apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein saidterminal unit has a projection which is inserted into a guide groovedisposed on the mounting bracket of said intercom master station, andsaid intercom master station has locking parts for fitting said terminalunit to the intercom master station so that engaged is an end face of aterminal outside chassis of said terminal unit which covers saidterminals and said terminal board by being moved in an orthogonaldirection to an inserting direction of said terminal unit.
 5. Theintercom apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at the same time assaid fitting operation, an electrical connection is carried out byinsertion-mounting a connector which is disposed on said terminal boardand a housing which is disposed on a main printed circuit board insideof said intercom master station.
 6. The intercom apparatus according toany one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, on said mounting bracket, disposed isa storage space for storing on the downside of said terminal unit a leadwire for carrying out an electrical connection between said intercommaster station and said terminal unit.
 7. The intercom apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein, on said terminal outside chassis,disposed is a lead wire guide for guiding and storing a lead wire whichis gotten out from said intercom master station.
 8. The intercomapparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or claims 5 to 7,comprising locking parts for having said terminal outside chassis ofsaid terminal unit fit by pushing said terminal unit in inside of saidintercom master station.
 9. The intercom apparatus according to any oneof claims 1 to 3, wherein said terminal unit is mounted on a openingpart of a wall hanging attachment for attaching said intercom masterstation to a wall by locking parts which are disposed on said terminalunit, and said intercom master station has a storage space for storingsaid terminal unit which is mounted on said wall hanging attachment. 10.The intercom apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an electricalconnection is carried out by inserting the connector disposed on saidterminal board which is disposed in said terminal unit into the housingdisposed on the main board which is disposed in said intercom masterstation.
 11. The intercom apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to10, wherein said terminal outside chassis is used as a part of an outerhull of said intercom master station.
 12. The intercom apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said terminals of said terminal unit aremounted on a side surface of said intercom master station so that thestation-to-station spanned wiring of said main line path is made to bean exposed wiring.